Bye-bye Trash! Hello Queen! novel Chapter 54

“What?” Wendy was taken aback, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. She had completely forgotten that Natalie had worn Joanna’s old clothes. She avoided Natalie’s gaze. “Don’t talk about money. We’re family.”

Natalie found her evasiveness laughable. “Mrs. Scott, I’m just a girl from the countryside with no education and no taste. I wouldn’t dare to associate with a family as prominent as yours, let alone call myself one of you. Is there anything else?”

Without waiting for an answer, she opened her banking app and transferred a hundred thousand dollars to Wendy.

Wendy had intended to bring up last night’s events, but the notification of the transfer completely threw her off. Her heart pounded in her chest.

“Natalie, I told you we’re family! You’re my daughter. Do you really think I would charge you for the food you ate in my house for a year?” She was fuming, her chest tight with a confusing mix of emotions. She wanted to love her biological daughter, she really did, but Natalie was always causing trouble, always at odds with Joanna. She had even tried to drive a wedge between her and her husband. That was what hurt the most. Maybe she was harsh with her sometimes, but it was only because Natalie was such a disappointment.

“My apologies. A hundred thousand should be more than enough to cover a year’s room and board. As of this moment, I no longer owe you anything. When you looked down on me, your own daughter, did you ever stop to think about why I was switched at birth? Why I was taken from you? If I had grown up by your side, I might have become an outstanding daughter. But you never held out that hope for me, so don’t you dare act disappointed now. You don’t deserve to. And even without you, I am still exceptional—so exceptional you could never hope to reach my level.”

Wendy’s chest ached. Seeing the finality in Natalie’s eyes, she finally exploded. “You say I don’t deserve to be a mother? Do you deserve to be a daughter? Why do you have to be involved in everything? Last night, you stole Joanna’s credit! She and Sebastian grew up together. You two have no feelings for each other. You’re divorced, so why do you keep showing up and harassing him? Do you enjoy fighting with Joanna over everything? If you had any decency, you wouldn’t do such things. Why must you always take what’s hers?”

The words were a physical blow. This was the real reason Wendy had called her here—to read her the riot act.

Without a word, Natalie unblocked Sebastian’s number and dialed.

“You’ll see in a minute, Mrs. Scott. I told you, I won’t be bullied by you people anymore. And I certainly won’t let you slander me.” Each word was laced with ice. She was going to force this divorce. She would never have anything to do with Sebastian again in this lifetime.

Sebastian had just finished his meeting. Remembering the last few times he had wrongly accused Natalie, he decided to give her the courtesy of showing up.

Wendy and Natalie sat in silence, Natalie with her head lowered. Wendy began to feel uneasy. Had she made a mistake again?

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